Anchor carrier and guide

ABSTRACT

The device serves, on pulling in the anchor cable, to first register the anchor shank in a tube which, with the anchor dropped, is pivotally suspended from the forward end of a channel member which is slidably mounted in a fixed channel member on the bow of a small boat. Resilient means normally urges the slidable channel member forward. When the anchor is in fully retrieved position the said tube registers in the slidable channel and the latter is held, against the force of the resilient means, in its rearmost position by the tautened cable. Upon release of the cable, the resilient means forces the slidable channel to its extreme forward position and the momentum thereof causes the tube to slide forward and simultaneously to pivot downward while the anchor shank slides out of the tube.

United States Patent Webb [ 51 July 11, 1972 [54] ANCHOR CARRIER AND GUIDE [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 52,26l, July 7, I970.

Pat. No. 3,635,187.

Smith ....1 14/2 l0 Webb ..li4/2l0 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-F. K. Yee Attorney-Frank Ledermann ABSTRACT The device serves, on pulling in the anchor cable, to first register the anchor shank in a tube which. with the anchor dropped, is pivotally suspended from the forward end of a channel member which is slidably mounted in a fixed channel member on the bow of a small boat. Resilient means normally urges the slidable channel member forward When the anchor is in fully retrieved position the said tube registers in the slidable channel and the latter is held, against the force of the resilient means, in its rearmost position by the tautened cable. Upon release of the cable. the resilient means forces the slidable channel to its extreme forward position and the momentum thereof causes the tube to slide forward and simultaneously to pivot downward while the anchor shank slides out of the tube.

7 Claims, [3 Drawing figures P'A'TENTEDJuL n 1972 3,675,608

29 22 I6 naa /.r

I N VENTOR. JAMES E. WEBB ATTORNEY PATENTEDJUL 1 1 m2 SHEET 2 (IF 2 FIG.|2

INVENTOR. JAMES E. WEBB ATTORNEY ANCHOR CARRIER AND GUIDE This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 52,261 filed July 7, i970 and bearing the same title, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,187.

Referring briefly to the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the bow of a small boat, showing in full lines the normal relative positions of the various members constituting the device when the anchor is in fully retrieved position, and in phantom the relative positions of such of the members which are moveable while the anchor is being dropped or retrieved.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1 per se.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, with parts omitted, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the anchor holding tube, per se, of the device.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the moveable channel member, per se, of the device.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front end view of the moveable channel member, per se, taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the moveable channel member, per se.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the anchor shank partly entered into the holder tube during retrieval, just before the anchor yoke is automatically swung into position pointing away from the bow.

FIG. 10 is similar view but showing the relative positions of the holder tube and the anchor yoke with the shank maximally registered in the tube.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the anchor, showing its unitary yoke and base in full lines and the two extreme positions of its pivoted shank in phantom.

FIG. 12 is a view taken on the line l2l2 of FIG. 11.

H0. 13 is a top plan view of the anchor holding tube per se.

Wherever the term forward," rear or rearwar or any of their derivatives are used herein, it is to be understood that they refer to positions with respect to the front edge of the bow of a boat.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 15, FIG. I, designates the bow of a small boat to which, in any suitable manner, a trough-shaped or channel-shaped member 16 is fixedly attached in approximately or substantially horizontal position, with its forward end preferably extending a distance beyond the bow. This member includes a bottom wall or floor l7 and opposed side walls I80 and 18b. The side wall 18b has a relatively abbreviated longitudinal slot 19.

Slidably mounted within the member 16 is a second channel member 20 including a bottom wall or floor 24 and having throughout the greater portion of its length relatively low side walls 21. The walls 21 have upwardly extending opposed cars 22 at their rear ends and, at their forward ends, forwardly projecting upward extensions 23 approximately triangular in side view and extending higher above the floor 24 than the cars 22. One of the ears 22 has a pin 25 therein which projects through and rides in the slot 19. The aligned pins 26 project inwardly from the upper extremities of the extensions 23.

A pin 27 extends laterally outward from the side wall 18b of the channel 16. A coiled tension spring 28 is connected between the pins 27 and 25 and nonnally urges the channel 20 outward, that is, forward, along the channel 16. The pin 25 which is slidable in the slot 19 limits the outward movement (to the left, FIG. 1) of the channel 20 to the position in which this pin meets the outer end of the slot 19. A constraining pin 29 extends through the wall 180 of the channel 16 and projects over the adjacent side wall 21 of the channel 20. This pin serves two purposes. First, it constrains the channel 20 from upward swinging or undue play about the axis of the pin 25; and second, it serves as a limit stop to the inward (toward the right, FIG. 1) movement of the channel 20 by engaging the upright edge 30 of the corresponding extension 23. However, the rearward end of the slot 19 might equally well serve the same purpose by being engageable by the pin 25.

An anchor holding tube is shown at 3], provided with relatively long longitudinal slots 32 into which project the opposed pins 26 on the extensions 23 of the channel 20. This tube is open at both ends and is substantially oval in cross-section; it has the circumferential edge of its forward end 33 wave-shaped. A flipper rod or trip rod 34 extends forward from and beyond the top of the front end 33.

The anchor 35 is of the type in which its shank 37 is pivotal through an are extending from one side of the plane of the anchor yoke 36 to the other side of the plane. Although the general type of such anchors is well known, the anchor 35 disclosed herein involves novel features. The yoke 36 consists of two spaced coplanar tapering wings 38 whose lower edges 39 are in alignment and rigidly connected by a rod or shaft 42 and the side walls 40 of a slotted base 41 extending at right angles to the plane of the yoke. The shaft 42 bridges the slot 43 in the base 41. Also shown bridging the slot 43 and positioned equidistantly from the shaft 42 are two additional stop rods, or stops, 44.

The anchor shank 37 is shown in outline as tapering toward its upper end. It is in fact shown as made of a continuous length of tubing or wire having the base end 45 relatively wide and the sides of the shank converging toward the upper end or tip 46, with one end of an anchor rope or cable 47 secured within the said tip. Thus an upwardly tapering slot 48 is formed within the shank, through which slot the shaft 42 extends. Hence the shank 37 is both pivotally and slidably engaged about the shaft 42. In order to limit the slidable movement of the shank with respect to this shaft and hence also the base 44, one side member thereof is thickened or provided with a bulge 49 at a distance from the end 45 so as to reduce the width of the slot 48 at that point below the distance between the shaft 42 and the stops 44. This prevents the shank from sliding downward through the slot 43 of the base 4l beyond the said point, which is desirable since without such provision the full length of the shank might protrude from the bottom of the base and thus foul up the anchor. Obviously, instead of being formed as shown of a unitary length of wire or the like, the shank 37 may be formed of any other suitable base material so long as it has the tapering shape shown with the rounded tip end 46, and of course the tapering slot 48.

The operation of the device as so far described is now believed apparent. FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show in solid lines the various parts of the device in the positions they occupy when the anchor is in the fully retrieved normal or unused position on the boat. The retrieving is accomplished by pulling the rope 47 to the right, FIG. I, and tying it taut about a suitable fixture 50. In such fully retrieved position the channel 20 is in its extreme right-hand position with respect to the fixed channel 16 by engagement of the pin 29 against the edge 30, as previously mentioned, and with the spring 28 tensed and elongated. The anchor shank 37 registers maximally within the tube 3|, and the latter has been moved to the right by the anchor with the pins 26 registering against the forward, left-hand, ends of the slots 32 in the tube.

It is apparent that upon slackening or release of the cable 47, the spring 28 will contract and thus project the channel 20 to the left with a momentum sufficient to cause the tube 31 with the anchor shank therein to be propelled outward from the channel 20 and further to cause the tube to swivel about the pins 26 and thus slide downward and discharge the anchor.

As is apparent in the various views showing the anchor shank 37, it is shaped in a common rectangular plane whose maximum width is such that the greater portion thereof beginning at the tapered tip is readily registrable in the rectangular enclosure of the tube 31. Owing to the waveor cam shaped conformation of the tube end 33, as the shank moves into the tube during retrieval, the shank will swing, unless previously in alignment with the tube compartment, into such alignment whence it continues to move into the maximum position of registration shown in FlG. 1.

It is further to be noted that as the shank 37 approaches its position of maximum registration in the tube, the trip projection 34 on the tube will engage the anchor base 44 and swing the yoke 36 through an angle to a position in which it points away from the boat, which is of course desirable, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. It is also to be noted that the anchor shank begins to enter the tube 3! while the tube is in the suspended position shown in phantom in FIG. I. As the cable 47 continues to be pulled in, the tube begins to pivot on the pins 26 while the shank continues into the tube and the channel 20 begins its movement to the right against the force of the spring 28.

In order to smooth the passage of the cable 47 through the tube 31 the latter is provided at the rear with a slot Si in the top and aligned slots 52 in the side walls thereof, FIGS. 2, and 13. A pulley 53 having its sheaves in close contact with the side walls of the tube, has axial pins rotatable as well as slidable in the slots 52. The cable 47 passes over this pulley to prevent friction with the enclosing walls of the tube. The rearmost end 54 of the tube is arched upward to permit passage of the cable therethrough from the top of the pulley.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A device comprising, in combination with an anchor, a first channel member fixedly secured to the bow of a boat in approximately horizontal position, a second channel member slidably mounted in said first member, each of said members consisting of a floor and opposed sidewalls, resilient means normally urging said second member forward with respect to said first member to project beyond said bow, first limit stop means limiting the forwardmost position of said second member with respect to said first member, second limit stop means limiting the rearwardmost position of said second member with respect to said first member, an anchor holding tube open at both ends normally slidably mounted in said second member, the forward ends of the side walls of said second member having aligned pins extending toward each other, the side walls of said tube having aligned longitudinal slots therein, said pins registering in said slots, said anchor including a yoke and a shank, said shank being dimensioned to register the greater part of its length in said tube, a cable secured to the tip of said shank and extending through said tube and rearward above both of said members, said device normally having said cable tautened and said anchor retrieved with the shank thereof registering in said tube as aforesaid and with said second member in said rearwardmost position whence said resilient means is constrained from urging said second member forward as aforesaid, slacking of said cable permitting said resilient means to propel said second member to its said forwardmost position and to cause said tube to be propelled forward to a position wherein said pins engage the rearmost ends of said slots in said tube whence said tube pivots about said pins into substantially vertical position and the weight of said anchor causes said shank to exit from said tube.

2. A device according to claim 1, said resilient means comprising a coiled spring having one end thereof secured to said first member and the other end thereof secured to said second member.

3. A device according to claim I, said first member having in one of the side walls thereof a longitudinal slot and a pin thereon positioned forward of said last-named slot, that one of said side walls of said second member which is adjacent said one of said side walls of said first member having a pin thereon near the rear end thereof registering in said last-named slot, said first limit stop means consisting of the forward end of said last-named slot adapted to be engaged by said last-named pin, said resilient means comprising a coiled spring having the ends thereof connected to said two last-named pins.

4. A device according to claim I, said shank and said tube having complementary oval cross-sections, said tube having its longer cross sectional dimension in a plane normal to the floors of said members, said yoke including two spaced coplanar wings, said anchor including additionally a base lying in a plane at right angles to the plane of said yoke and positioned between and joining said wings, said base having a longitudinal slot therein positioned in said plane thereof said shank tapermg toward said tip and having a correspondingly tapering slot therein, the widened end of said shank remote from said tip extending into said last-named slot, an intermediate pin extending across said last-named slot and lying in said plane of said yoke, said intermediate pin extending through said widened end of said shank whence said shank is pivotable about said intermediate pin in said plane of said base.

5. A device according to claim 4, said base of said yoke having limit stops limiting the swinging of said shank about said intermediate pin to equal angles on both sides of said plane of said yoke.

6. A device according to claim 4, said last-named limit stops consisting of two additional pins extending across said lastnamed slot and spaced equidistantly from said intermediate pm.

7. A device according to claim 1, said tube having a pulley mounted near the rear end thereof on an axis at right angles to the side walls of said first member, said cable passing over said pulley. 

1. A device comprising, in combination with an anchor, a first channel member fixedly secured to the bow of a boat in approximately horizontal position, a second channel member slidably mounted in said first member, each of said members consisting of a floor and opposed sidewalls, resilient means normally urging said second member forward with respect to said first member to project beyond said bow, first limit stop means limiting the forwardmost position of said second member with respect to said first member, second limit stop means limiting the rearwardmost position of said second member with respect to said first member, an anchor holding tube open at both ends normally slidably mounted in said second member, the forward ends of the side walls of said second member having aligned pins extending toward each other, the side walls of said tube having aligned longitudinal slots therein, said pins registering in said slots, said anchor including a yoke and a shank, said shank being dimensioned to register the greater part of its lengTh in said tube, a cable secured to the tip of said shank and extending through said tube and rearward above both of said members, said device normally having said cable tautened and said anchor retrieved with the shank thereof registering in said tube as aforesaid and with said second member in said rearwardmost position whence said resilient means is constrained from urging said second member forward as aforesaid, slacking of said cable permitting said resilient means to propel said second member to its said forwardmost position and to cause said tube to be propelled forward to a position wherein said pins engage the rearmost ends of said slots in said tube whence said tube pivots about said pins into substantially vertical position and the weight of said anchor causes said shank to exit from said tube.
 2. A device according to claim 1, said resilient means comprising a coiled spring having one end thereof secured to said first member and the other end thereof secured to said second member.
 3. A device according to claim 1, said first member having in one of the side walls thereof a longitudinal slot and a pin thereon positioned forward of said last-named slot, that one of said side walls of said second member which is adjacent said one of said side walls of said first member having a pin thereon near the rear end thereof registering in said last-named slot, said first limit stop means consisting of the forward end of said last-named slot adapted to be engaged by said last-named pin, said resilient means comprising a coiled spring having the ends thereof connected to said two last-named pins.
 4. A device according to claim 1, said shank and said tube having complementary oval cross-sections, said tube having its longer cross-sectional dimension in a plane normal to the floors of said members, said yoke including two spaced co-planar wings, said anchor including additionally a base lying in a plane at right angles to the plane of said yoke and positioned between and joining said wings, said base having a longitudinal slot therein positioned in said plane thereof, said shank tapering toward said tip and having a correspondingly tapering slot therein, the widened end of said shank remote from said tip extending into said last-named slot, an intermediate pin extending across said last-named slot and lying in said plane of said yoke, said intermediate pin extending through said widened end of said shank whence said shank is pivotable about said intermediate pin in said plane of said base.
 5. A device according to claim 4, said base of said yoke having limit stops limiting the swinging of said shank about said intermediate pin to equal angles on both sides of said plane of said yoke.
 6. A device according to claim 4, said last-named limit stops consisting of two additional pins extending across said last-named slot and spaced equidistantly from said intermediate pin.
 7. A device according to claim 1, said tube having a pulley mounted near the rear end thereof on an axis at right angles to the side walls of said first member, said cable passing over said pulley. 